The Importance of Social Support during Cancer

by Barbara L. Andersen, PhD

Having cancer can be an isolating
experience. But during
this time, social support is
very important. The challenge for you
is to figure out what type of support you
need, from whom to get it, and how long
you will need the support. For people
with many social connections, friends
and family are good resources with
which to begin. For those with few relationships,
healthcare professionals,
peers, and other cancer survivors may
instead provide solace and support.

Why Social Support Is Important
We seek close connections with others
because, from these relationships, we
gain attachment
– the feeling
of bonding and
security with
another. Close
relationships
provide guidance,
advice, and
support when
it’s needed. Relationships,
by
definition, provide
social integration with another,
including a sense of shared values, interests,
and companionship. They also
allow for reciprocation, the opportunity
for you to provide nurturance, love, and
care in return. When you feel like you
have support, you feel cared for, loved,
and valued. Support from friends, family,
spouses, social organizations, your
church, and other sources can provide
satisfaction with life and all-around
better physical and mental health.

Close relationships
provide guidance,
advice, and support
when it’s needed.

Dr. Barbara Andersen

How Stress Plays a Part
Stress influences
our physiology, our mind, and
our behavior. With something as significant
as the diagnosis of cancer, your
confidence in managing the stress that
comes with it can plummet. Knowing
that support from others is available
and adequate provides you with a tremendous
resource, even if you may
not realize it, by helping you cope with
stressful events and reducing your stress
levels. Without support from others during
cancer, stress can linger and possibly
worsen, and you face an increased risk
for depression. Additionally, chronically
stressful relationships, such as a difficult
marriage, can also cause depression,
slowed recovery, and increase the risk
for health problems.

How to Find Support
If you feel
you need more support than your current
relationships can provide, seeing
a mental health professional could be
helpful. In addition to standard face-to-face therapy with a psychologist or
counselor, many hospitals offer support
services and group resources, including
specialized support groups for specific
cancer types. Even if support groups are
not available, most communities have
educational programs for cancer survivors.

Before you join a support group, find
out who is leading the group and what
their prior training is. You might also
want to know what kind of survivors
usually make up the group (for example,
the newly diagnosed, people with
recurrence, or breast cancer survivors).
It’s important to find a group whose
membership and focus is tailored to
your needs and concerns. You might
also ask for a referral to former members
to ask about their experience with
the group so you can make a decision.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Dr. Barbara Andersen is a professor of psychology
at Ohio State University and is known
for her work on the biobehavioral aspects of
cancer. She also trains mental health professionals
to deliver the From Cancer to Health
intervention,
cancertohealth.osu.edu.

This article was published in Coping® with Cancer magazine,
January/February
2013.